Can you feed large single polyp LPS to often?

[scubawarm]

I just get such a kick out of watching my meat type and other large single polyp corals devour a couple pellets placed on them. They seem to train the more you do it, expanding quicker to make sure no one steals THEIR food.

They lay there with puffy lips just waiting.... can't help but think of the movie... Little Shop of Horrors... feed me.. feed me... FEED ME!

Is doing this nightly too often? If so what are the issues?

Thanks much.

 

[darkiss]

I was feeding my GSP daily for about two weeks then it closed up for 2-3days and after that I have not feed it since and it never closed up again.

 

[Reef Bass]

"Feed me Seymour!"

I totally get what you're saying. In my experience, one will run into water quality issues with elevated nitrates and phosphates from overfeeding first, which then can lead to a decline in health of the corals. And algae. Lots and lots of algae.

 

[scubawarm]

"Feed me Seymour!"

I totally get what you're saying. In my experience, one will run into water quality issues with elevated nitrates and phosphates from overfeeding first, which then can lead to a decline in health of the corals. And algae. Lots and lots of algae.

I'm not to worried about that... Have DSB with lots of rock so never see nitrates.... Phosphates show up but with GFO are usually at zero too. Also add vinegar to my kalkwater so carbon dosing as well. My fish get way more overfeed then any coral I have.

OK... so unless I have to cut back because of water parameters it is OK to treat them. We travel a fair amount so they will have to fast once in awhile anyways.

 

[Turbo snail]

IME, if you're feeding too much the polyps will just stop taking the food and it'll fall off/get eaten by something else. As long as your water quality doesn't degrade I would think you'll be fine.

 

[symon_say]

The coral will only eat what he needs, if he don't want food it won't take it.

 

[Taipan]

I think you can feed as much as much as it will eat. You will have to monitor for a few things to be safe: 1.) Food decomposing/rotting on the coral if it doesn't eat., 2.) Other fish/creatures taking the food that the coral doesn't eat (this may encourage the fish to think the coral is a food source), and as others have stated - water quality.

Watching them eat is very cool.